Why Gen X Parents Flourish While Their Gen Z Kids Struggle in the New Normal

(SPOT.ph) Adjusting to the 'new normal' is challenging for everyone, especially after two years of being cooped up at home due to COVID-19. While many would assume that younger people or Gen Zs would find the shift easier given that they are digital natives, their Gen X parents are the ones who reported better well-being according to a study.

Also read:  Millennials are Coping Better Than Gen Z in the New Normal, Here’s Why

More Gen X parents at 54% reported better well-being in the new normal in 2022 than their Gen Z children at 51% according to a study by insurance provider Manulife.

Gen X parents, or those in their 40s, saw the pandemic as an opportunity to "step out of their comfort zones" according to Melissa Henson, chief marketing officer of Manulife Philippines.

"As we adjust to the new normal, we found that parents found new ways to flourish while [Gen Z] children have experienced and continue to experience challenges," Henson told reporters.

The study covered 500 respondents from different age groups—Generation X, Millennials or Gen Y, and Gen Z—across the country for insights on the impact of digitalization and how the pandemic changed family dynamics for Filipinos.

Why do Gen X parents report better well-being than Gen Z kids?

Compared to the first two years of the pandemic, Henson said Gen X parents are "not as stressed this year compared to last year."

"They saw this as an opportunity to create a new normal for themselves. I think what we see here is the parents were able to find the silver lining in the pandemic," she added.

Also read: Stuck Between: Why Filipinos Can't Break From the Sandwich-Generation Cycle

Here are the top reasons that Gen X parents cited in the study that contributed to their better well-being:

• 35% say it's because it's easier to work, do business, or have a job now
• 25% say it's because there are fewer restrictions and things are going back to normal
• 21% say it's because they are able to go outside now and socialize
• 16% say it's because their family is healthy or have been fully-vaccinated
• 15% say it's because they're more financially stable now

Gen X parents also found new ways to flourish with new top interests as follows:

• 41%- Watching online content
• 29%-Health and fitness
• 28%- Finance

Why are Gen Z kids struggling?

Even though they were born in the age of the Internet, Gen Z kids are having a harder time adjusting in the new normal primarily due to digital fatigue, the study showed.

"While Gen Z spend a lot of time on social media it also stresses them out because of the pressures of presenting an image online," Henson said.

Some 56% of Gen Z kids shared that the return of face-to-face classes was a source of stress for them while 46% cited social media use and their online image according to the study.

Here's how Gen Z kids are struggling in the new normal based on the study:

• 68% experience stress, fatigue, and depression
• 55% are increasingly irritable
• 54% are sleep-deprived

"The Gen Z children are actually still struggling. They struggled during the pandemic and are still struggling now," Henson said.

Also read: Gen Z Emoji Meanings Explained for the Out-of-Touch(screen) Millennials